Ventilating-closure for window-openings and the like.



C. A. FOX. VENTILATING CLOSURE FOR WINDOW OPENINGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19 m7.

Patented. Dec. 11, 1917.

INKENTOR. 6L$746U W 5 1% @011 VENTILATIllTG-CLOSUBE FOR WINDOW-OPENINGS AND THE LIKE.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patentoed D0303. Illll, 1911?.

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,720.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CATHERINE A. Fox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating-Closures for Window-Openings and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ventilating closures for window openings and the like. Its principal objects are to provide simple, lightweight and easily operable means for closing a window opening or the like against the entrance of dust, insects,objectionable drafts, etc, while admitting a desired quantity of air for ventilation purposes. More specific objects are to provide a ventilatlng closure for window parts which shall be hidden from view when the window is closed, and also, if desired, when the window is standing open in the usual way; which shall occupy but limited space; which may be readily removed, as for cleaning or repair of parts; which admits of the ready replacement of its screen when worn or when other conditions warrant; which is so positioned that its working parts are protected from the weather; which automatically closes the window opening as the sash is moved any desired distance; which does notinterfere with the opening or closing of the window in the usual way; which may be constructed so as to admit a considerable amount of light as well as air; which constitutes an 5 efiective screen against obtrusive vision from the outside; and which may be variously attached in association with upper and lower sashes by suitable modifications of which one is specifically shown, such modifications being within merely mechanical skill. Still other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, I have 4 shown a preferred embodiment of these improvements, in which Figure 1 is a broken vertical section of window parts with these improvements thereon, as on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a vertical section as on the 5 line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of roller supporting means, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, all said views being in the directions of the arrows of the figures respectively; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View showing curtain, roller and tensioning lever details.

The. window parts illustrated comprise i gether with a suitable number of turns of the screen 16 thereon. The roller 15 is suitably of tubular metal construction and is provided on its periphery with a plurality of snap fasteners 18 adapted to interlock with 0065p crating fasteners 19 on the fabric 16. The roller 15 is provided also with a fixed axial pintle 20 at one end thereof, circular in cross view, and with the axial pintle 21, rectangular in cross view, at the other end, thepintle 21 being mounted to rotate in the end wall 23 of the roller. The coiled spring 24 within the body of the roller 15 is secured rigidly to the roller body as at 25 at its one end, and at its other end is secured to the pintle 21, as at 26. Thus, by turning the pintle 21 on its axis the spring 24 may be placed under tension whereby the spring will rotate the roller in one direction and wind the screen 16 thereon when the device is in use.

Means for securing the roller in operative position comprise the two brackets or supports 30 and 31 secured as by screws 32 at the sides of the window opening and upon the sash parts 12 and 13 respectively. The

pintle 20 rotates freely in a suitable hole in the bracket 30. The bracket 31 is provided with a plurality of stamped-up cars 34 and a bottom catch 35, the ears 34 forming a slide-way for the tensioning lever and roller support 36, this support or lever 36 having a rectangular opening adapted to accommodate the pintle 21 and hold the same against turning relative thereto under pressure of the spring 24.

When the screen 16 is upon the roller and it is desired to secure the roller'operatively in the groove 14 the lever 36 is applied to the pintle 21 as illustrated in Fig. 4, and by placing a finger in the finger opening 37 the spring 24 may be placed under a suitable tension by giving the lever 36 a few turns around the axis of the pintle 21. The pintle 20 is thereupon placed in holding relation to the bracket 30, and thereupon the lever 36 is inserted beneath the lowermost lips 34 and slid upward until the portion of the lever 36 about the notch 38 thereof becomes interhooked with the catch part 35. The roller is thereupon in operative position with the spring under suitable tension and the pintle 21::isimaintained against rotation.

The screen 16 is provided with a rod 40 extending ac-ross the free end thereof, anda pair of spring hooks 41 secured upon the sill 11 maintain the freeend'portion of the screen 16in close relation to the sill. It Will 'be'noted that the 's'creensubsta'ntially fills'the window opening from side to side,

and'itwill be at'once apparent that the'sash may be raised and lowered with the parts *as'shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and that the spring '24 Within the roller 15 Will maintain the screenj16 taut so as to cover the window "opening in all practical positions of the sash. Should "it be desired to open the window in the usualway the free edge portion of the screen 'is simply released from the catches 41*and the screen permitted to become Woundupon the ro'ller,-the screen then being entirely out of-sight. 'Should it be desired to remove the roller, asfor removing the screen therefrom, the'roller support or wind.-

' ing lever36 is pushed upwar d slightly until released from the catch 35, whereupon it -'may be withdrawn from engagement with the ears 34:.

The fabric 16may be of any suitable light wei ght andfiexible material, and is prefer- 'ably of fabric having appreciable space betWeenthe'warp and woof threads for the ad mission of air. 'In'practice I-employ what is known as scrim for the screen 16, although other materials may be used. Scrim is sullisoot.

The uses to which the device may be put are manifold, but I will mention that for ventilating sleeping and other living quarters, hospitals, etc., it is of marked utility and importance in excluding much objectionable matter floating in the air, saving the window curtains and other draperies, maintaining a condition of cleanliness in the rooms and preventing objectionable drafts, and all while admitting a copious supply of fresh air.

I claim:

1. Means for holding ascrecn-containing roller operatively in alongitudinal recess in a sash rail, including in combination a bracketat one'end of the recess, a pintlc at the'corresponding end of the roller, a rollersupport engaging said pintle, and interlocking means between said roller support and said bracket forsecuring said rollersupport readily removable onsaid bracket.

2. In combination, a longitudinally recessed vertically movable lower sash rail, :1 window frame sill opposite and below the recessof said rail, a readily removable roller rotatively mounted in the recess of said rail, a readily removable screen-secured to said roller, and means on said sill for readily removably holding the free end of said screen.

CATHERINE A. FOX.

fiogies' of this patent may be obtained' for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). c. 

